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Monday, July 18, 2011

Geothermal caverns heat up speleo convention

... But Crystal Valley treasure is off-limits to protect bat colony

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Nestled deep underground in the Crystal Valley between Carbondale and Redstone is one of the most unique geological discoveries, or rediscoveries in this case, anywhere in Colorado.

Access to the vast network of caves, via old mine shafts beneath Elephant Mountain, is now strictly controlled in an effort to protect a large colony of Townsend's big-eared bats discovered there about six years ago.

But geologist Mark Maslyn of Littleton and a team of cave researchers had the opportunity shortly before that time to explore the geothermal caves.

Maslyn was one of the many cave geology presenters during the National Speleological Society (NSS) annual convention being held at Glenwood Springs High School and elsewhere around town all this week. The convention promises to draw upwards of 1,400 people to Glenwood Springs later this week.

The Elephant Mountain vapor caves, similar to the Yampah Vapor Caves in Glenwood Springs, are heated by the hot springs that flow beneath the mountain into the Crystal River.While cave temperatures in Colorado typically hover around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the lower caves at Elephant Mountain are a constant 86 degrees, Maslyn explained.

The geothermal heat is what likely attracted the bats to colonize there in the first place, he said.

But it wasn't until the collapsed mine entrances, dating back to the late 1800s and last active in the 1940s, were reopened by mine prospector Robert Congdon several decades later that the bats regained access to the caves, Maslyn said.

“Once he discovered what was in there in terms of the geology, he contacted us,” Maslyn said of Congdon, who still owns the mine claims while the surface is controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.

Inside the mountain are some of the most unique, high-grade mineral deposits anywhere in the western United States.

“It's all very high-grade mineralization, but in very small deposits,” Maslyn said. “We'd love to go back in there someday to do more research work.”

But, with the growing concerns about the spread of white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has decimated bat populations in the eastern United States since 2006, access into the Elephant Mountain caves is now prohibited.

“If it wasn't for Robert Congdon going back in there and reopening those tunnels, we never would have gotten back in there to see all that the cave system had to offer,” Maslyn said.

Maslyn was one of the more than dozen presenters at the NSS convention Monday, on topics ranging from geology studies in numerous caves around the country to cave surveying and exploration techniques.

The 70th anniversary NSS convention continues all this week, including business meetings, scientific presentations, workshops and activities. The convention is being hosted by the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

As of Monday afternoon, close to 1,200 people from all over the United States and the world had registered for the convention. More were expected to arrive by mid-week, convention co-chairman Dave Lester said.

Among the attendees is 76-year-old Bob Stucklen of Loveland, who has attended the convention every year for 51 years.

“I flew my plane over here, and I've probably flown to about 25 conventions around the country,” said Stucklen, who was joined by his wife, Deb, and their two grown sons.

“I love the camaraderie of meeting a lot of new people, and you get to see a lot of different parts of the country,” he said. “And, of course, you learn a lot about what's going on in the national caving community.”

Stucklen is also the transportation director for the convention, in charge of making sure the participants get to the different convention venues around town and to other destinations.

“It's just nice to get out and explore new caves and learn more about the new species that are being discovered,” added his wife.

Also attending the convention are caving buddies Marty Abercrombie and Kyle Gochenour of Georgia.

“We like exploring places where not many other people have been, and potentially finding something that no one has found before,” said Abercrombie, 33, who has been to two other NSS conventions in Florida and Texas.

This is Gochenour's first convention.

“I've been here to Colorado numerous times, but for other things,” said the 25-year-old from Atlanta. “Back in Georgia, we explore caves just about every weekend.”

Monday, July 18, 2011

Geothermal caverns heat up speleo convention

... But Crystal Valley treasure is off-limits to protect bat colony

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Nestled deep underground in the Crystal Valley between Carbondale and Redstone is one of the most unique geological discoveries, or rediscoveries in this case, anywhere in Colorado.

Access to the vast network of caves, via old mine shafts beneath Elephant Mountain, is now strictly controlled in an effort to protect a large colony of Townsend's big-eared bats discovered there about six years ago.

But geologist Mark Maslyn of Littleton and a team of cave researchers had the opportunity shortly before that time to explore the geothermal caves.

Maslyn was one of the many cave geology presenters during the National Speleological Society (NSS) annual convention being held at Glenwood Springs High School and elsewhere around town all this week. The convention promises to draw upwards of 1,400 people to Glenwood Springs later this week.

The Elephant Mountain vapor caves, similar to the Yampah Vapor Caves in Glenwood Springs, are heated by the hot springs that flow beneath the mountain into the Crystal River.While cave temperatures in Colorado typically hover around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the lower caves at Elephant Mountain are a constant 86 degrees, Maslyn explained.

The geothermal heat is what likely attracted the bats to colonize there in the first place, he said.

But it wasn't until the collapsed mine entrances, dating back to the late 1800s and last active in the 1940s, were reopened by mine prospector Robert Congdon several decades later that the bats regained access to the caves, Maslyn said.

“Once he discovered what was in there in terms of the geology, he contacted us,” Maslyn said of Congdon, who still owns the mine claims while the surface is controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.

Inside the mountain are some of the most unique, high-grade mineral deposits anywhere in the western United States.

“It's all very high-grade mineralization, but in very small deposits,” Maslyn said. “We'd love to go back in there someday to do more research work.”

But, with the growing concerns about the spread of white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has decimated bat populations in the eastern United States since 2006, access into the Elephant Mountain caves is now prohibited.

“If it wasn't for Robert Congdon going back in there and reopening those tunnels, we never would have gotten back in there to see all that the cave system had to offer,” Maslyn said.

Maslyn was one of the more than dozen presenters at the NSS convention Monday, on topics ranging from geology studies in numerous caves around the country to cave surveying and exploration techniques.

The 70th anniversary NSS convention continues all this week, including business meetings, scientific presentations, workshops and activities. The convention is being hosted by the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

As of Monday afternoon, close to 1,200 people from all over the United States and the world had registered for the convention. More were expected to arrive by mid-week, convention co-chairman Dave Lester said.

Among the attendees is 76-year-old Bob Stucklen of Loveland, who has attended the convention every year for 51 years.

“I flew my plane over here, and I've probably flown to about 25 conventions around the country,” said Stucklen, who was joined by his wife, Deb, and their two grown sons.

“I love the camaraderie of meeting a lot of new people, and you get to see a lot of different parts of the country,” he said. “And, of course, you learn a lot about what's going on in the national caving community.”

Stucklen is also the transportation director for the convention, in charge of making sure the participants get to the different convention venues around town and to other destinations.

“It's just nice to get out and explore new caves and learn more about the new species that are being discovered,” added his wife.

Also attending the convention are caving buddies Marty Abercrombie and Kyle Gochenour of Georgia.

“We like exploring places where not many other people have been, and potentially finding something that no one has found before,” said Abercrombie, 33, who has been to two other NSS conventions in Florida and Texas.

This is Gochenour's first convention.

“I've been here to Colorado numerous times, but for other things,” said the 25-year-old from Atlanta. “Back in Georgia, we explore caves just about every weekend.”